It took 13 rounds of diplomatic discussions between India and China to resolve the face-off between their militaries in Doklam last year, according to a report by a parliamentary panel.
The report by the committee on External Affairs termed the Chinese intrusion at Doklam as a “blatant but unsuccessful attempt” to unilaterally change the status quo at the India, Bhutan, China tri-junction in Doklam, seriously affecting India’s security interests.
Complimenting the Government’s handling of the face-off, the committee said it remained concerned that Chinese infrastructure built “uncomfortably” close to the tri-junction has not yet been dismantled. The committee, headed by former Minister of state in External Affairs Ministry Shashi Tharoor, said Doklam was not a sovereignty issue for India as the disputed territory was Bhutanese, but nevertheless it was major security challenge for New Delhi.
“The committee will like to put on record their highest appreciation for the brave and timely action of our security forces which checked the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) troops from continuing with their road construction activity in South Doklam,” panel said in the report tabled in Parliament on Monday. PTI